President of Ukraine: Many pilots died while delivering food to the Azovstal factory

An image from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on May 17 shows Ukrainian servicemen being examined by soldiers of the pro-Russian forces after they left the Azovstal steel plant. AFP

“Unfortunately, a very large number of our pilots have died. They were true heroes who, knowing the danger, knowing it was almost impossible, still flew to the Azovstal factory to distribute medicine, food, water and get the bodies and wounded out of there. . It has happened before, but no one can publicly comment on it,” President Zelensky said on television, quoted by the RBC-Ukraine news agency, according to the website. LB.ua news.

President Zelensky confirmed that there is no flight path to the Azovstal steel plant because the enemy’s air defense system is too strong.

“For weeks, the pilots flew helicopters, knowing 90% of the time that they might not be able to come back… Imagine what they did. They flew there to provide food, water, weapons, and supplies. take the wounded away. We have lost many pilots. They are real heroes,” said President Zelensky.

On May 20, Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Ukrainian forces still entrenched in the Azovstal factory, said that the force had been ordered to stop fighting to “save the lives of the soldiers”, according to Reuters. Prokopenko added that wounded civilians and soldiers had been evacuated from the Azovstal factory, while the bodies of those who died in the factory were still being removed from there.

The Azovstal Steel Plant is the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, which is under the control of Russian forces.

RT radio on May 21 reported that the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the entire Azovstal steel plant area in Mariupol had been controlled, and a total of more than 2,400 people who had been entrenched inside had laid down their weapons and surrendered.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the last group of 531 soldiers surrendered on May 20. A total of 2,439 people have surrendered since May 16.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin about “successfully completing the campaign”. The Ukrainian side has not yet confirmed the Russian statement.